Novartis acquires rights to nicotine addiction vaccine

Novartis has announced the acquisition of the exclusive global rights to a compound currently in development from Cytos Biotechnology that is a candidate therapeutic vaccine against nicotine addiction.

The compound, CYT002-NicQb, has exhibited the ability to aid abstinence in smoking in patients showing high levels of antibodies following administration with the vaccine.

Under the terms of the agreement, Novartis will gain the worldwide rights to the compound in exchange for an initial payment of CHF 35 million (14.5 million pounds), in addition to a number of development, regulatory and commercialisation landmark payments and royalties on sales on the products.

Novartis will also pay the totality of costs of future development, manufacturing and marketing of the compound, which is due to enter phase III clinical trials

Thomas Ebeling, chief executive officer of Novartis Pharma, said: “This unique compound complements our efforts to provide a range of new treatment options to patients and physicians across a wide range of respiratory diseases.”

He added that the use of vaccine technology could help people prevail over their addiction to nicotine and stop smoking – the cause of a number of fatal conditions.

In October 2006, Novartis reported the results of a phase III clinical trial showing that its influenza vaccine based on cell culture technology is at least as effective as currently marketed products.